To me, $1,000 dollars symbolizes a lot of money. Such amounts may be lunch money to people like Bill Gates, but to my family and me it is riches. So, imagine my surprise a couple of days ago when I received a card from my parents that contained a check for a thousand dollars. I am pushing 60 years old, and my PARENTS sent me a large sum of money. I tore it up, but not without feeling much gratitude and maybe guilt.
Such a sum could have made a significant contribution to the Faux family Christmas.
My parents are in their eighties, and they are disabled enough to require home-care around the clock. Fortunately for them, they have a certified caretaker in their home, but such care is costly – thousands per month.
It was not too hard to decide to tear my parent's check up. They need the money more than me. But, I strongly appreciated their sentiment, and their sentiment reminded me of gospel principles centered around thanksgiving and sacrifice.
Let me take a brief but relevant detour. Yesterday, my 16-year old son experienced his FIRST migraine headache. He was in bed for several hours immobilized. I vicariously suffered with him. My first migraine headache was around the same age. The headaches were severe. Fortunately, they are now very rare and very mild. But, as I watched my son, I felt a severe psychological pain. I would have rather experienced the headache for him than let him suffer.
Then, a thought occurred to me. I imagined the pain of our Heavenly Father as he watched his Son die upon the Calvary cross. Imagine God's love for us that he would allow such suffering to his Son.
My thoughts ricocheted around in my head -- one association after another. My parents would rather increase their pain and suffering than allow such to happen to me. Somehow, they decided to send me a large sum of money. What amount? My parents were raised in the Great Depression. A thousand dollars represented a large sum in their minds. Thus, they mailed the check.
Jesus made a supreme sacrifice being nailed to a cross. My sacrifice was completely insignificant by comparison, but still necessary. I had to give back to my parents.
I called them over the phone (they live in another State) to thank them, but before I could…
They mentioned to me that they were struggling to pay their bills for their home-care, but they were finding the money somehow. Then, I thanked them profusely for their generosity – expressing how grateful I truly was. But, I said, "I am glad I tore up your check. You need the money more than I do."
I sensed a tone of relief in my father's voice.
They gave to me, and I gave back. There was a certain blessing in the exchange.
I hope all of you will have had a Happy Thanksgiving!!
Copyright © 2010 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.
Please feel free to give my blog site a "Blogged.com" rating and review by clicking here.
Support Mormon Insights by making a COMMENT.
2 comments:
Happy Thanksgiving! Lovely reminder.
Another gift that you gave to your parents was the real assurance that you are doing okay, that your family isn't going without anything so critical that you needed your parents' money more than they did. They don't have to worry for you.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Post a Comment